Invisible Corps Update!
We are grateful for your contributions to the Invisible Corps PBS documentary effort. COA recently announced that they have raised the full amount and everything is coming together for the world premiere at Symposium this year. COF provided a note of thanks for the initial donation we made on your behalf before we had the final tally of officer donations to meet their deadline. A final tally will be reported during our upcoming quarterly meeting. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and we’ll be recognized in the credits as a contributing branch. Bravo Zulu for making USPHS a bit less invisible!
RMCOA Blood Drive Continues!
RMCOA is hosting a virtual blood drive through April 15, 2023. PHS officers, their family members, colleagues, and friends are encouraged to sign up to donate blood, plasma, or platelets at the location of their choice. Take a picture of yourself to show proof of blood donation (photos showing “I donated” stickers are preferred), and receive credit for participating in an RMCOA event. Details on how to participate can be found here on the website. Each time you participate in the blood drive, you will earn a “lottery entry” into the RMCOA 2023 Participation Lottery. Get out and roll up your sleeves for a good cause!
Quarterly Meeting – April 19, 2023 @ 1400 MDT
Join us for the upcoming RMCOA Quarterly Meeting to be held via Teams or near one of the locations outlined below to coincide with Drug Takeback Day. We have confirmed that LCDR Jerome Anderson will be joining us to talk about his role at CCHQ doing Employee Relations/Officer Advocacy. We’re also going to have at least one recent retiree share their experiences with the VA and the CCHQ retirement process, so this will be one you don’t want to miss! At the event we’ll also announce the winner of the RMCOA 2023 Participation Lottery, and showing up counts as an entry, so be there for a shot at a Symposium scholarship, or some uniform upgrades, or a shadow box, depending upon the winner’s preference.
Denver Federal Drug Take Back Day – April 19, 2023 @ 10am – 2pm MDT
Just prior to our RMCOA Quarterly Meeting, Denver-area Corps officers can assist with staffing the event table at:
- Federal Center Bldg. 25 (3-4 officers) in shifts between 10 am – 2pm
- Byron Rodgers Federal Building (2-3 officers) between 10 am -2 pm
This is a great opportunity for Denver-based Corps officers to visibly support the Surgeon General’s public health priority of addressing substance use disorder in collaboration with your federal colleagues in Denver! Drug takeback programs are an important harm reduction strategy for disposing of unwanted/expired medications. If you are interested, please email Laurie Konsella (laurie.konsella@hhs.gov). This will also count for the RMCOA 2023 Participation Lottery.
What: Federal Drug Take Back Day
Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Times: 10am-2pm (can work all or shifts within)
Where: Denver Federal Center – Building 25 – Need 3-4 Officers & Byron Rogers Federal Office Building (1961 Stout Street) – Need 2-3 Officers